More than 500 people were expected to attend $250 a plate dinner at PNC Arts Center in Holmdel. Besides Christie and Kyrillos, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore were on the bill.

Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) acknowledged the one-term incumbent will have the fundraising advantage, but said his supporters believe he's the candidate to turnaround the state's unemployment and underemployment rate, the debt crisis and America's standing in the world.

“I’m going to be outspent," he said this afternoon. "Everybody knows that, but people who know me, they know my record over time and they’re going to support me with enough resources to be viable. What I have that Bob Menendez doesn’t have is the opportunity to connect with people who want America to go in a better direction and they know with him it’s going to be more of the same."

Menendez has $7 million in his federal campaign account. Kyrillos' first financial statements are due the end of the month.

A veteran lawmaker and former state GOP chairman, the 51-year-old Kyrillos has been friends with Christie for 20 years. Kyrillos led Mitt Romney's New Jersey campaign in the 2008 Republican presidential primary.